Vertical movable log skidder with hold down means



1966 MIRKO DRAKULICH 3,

VERTICAL MOVABLE LOG SKIDDER WITH HOLD DOWN MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 12, 1963 m m m m MIRKO DRAKULICH 1966 MIRKO DRAKULICH 3, 35, 08

VERTICAL MOVABLE LOG SKIDDER WITH HOLD DOWN MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 12 1965 INVENTOR MIRKO DRAKUL ICH United States Patent 3,235,108 VERTICAL MBVABLE LOG SKHDDER WITH HOLD DOWN MEANS Mirko Drakulich, 13 Nugent St., Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada Filed Aug. 12, 1963, Set. N 301,331 4 Claims. (Cl. 214-654) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in log skidding devices, particularly log skidding devices adapted to be used with pulp wood in the bush or cutting area.

Many devices exist for the transportation of a plurality of pulp wood logs from one place to another but all of them suffer from several limitations.

While conventional equipment is usually satisfactory when used under ideal conditions, difficulties arise when the pulp wood is stacked on uneven ground, in difiicult locations, and when the pulp wood is not of a standard size and smooth exterior configuration,

Under these conditions, conventional equipment often has ditficulty in engaging the lower forks and then maintaining the load by means of the upper forks without considerable difficulty and time consuming maneuvermg.

I have overcome these disadvantages by providing a log skidding device having independently operated base fork members mounted upon a head frame together with an upper fork assembly which not only can be adjusted vertically with relation to the base fork members but can also pivot in an arc to facilitate the engagement of the logs by the device.

The principal object and essence of my invention is therefore to provide a device of the character herewithin described which permits independent operation of the base forks.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is readily adapted to be secured to a conventional source of power such as an endless track tractor.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herew'ithin described which is adapted to be operatedfrom the hydraulic system of the source of power.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is extremely flexible in use inasmuch as it can operate satisfactory with relatively few logs and yet which will, when desired, carry a full load of more than 8 cords of pulpwood.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the charatcer herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture, and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apaprent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the device shown attached to a conventional source of power, said source of power being shown in dotted lines.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the device per se.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of the device per se.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view, enlarged with relation to the other drawings, and taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view of a por- 3,235,108 Patented Feb. 15, 1966 ice tion of the base fork members, taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.-

Proceding therefore to describe my invention in detail, reference should first be made to FIGURE 1 in which my assembly collectively designated is shown attached to an endless track tractor 11 normally having a bulldozer blade assembly 12 on the front end thereof.

The device it) is secured to the rear end 13 of the bulldozer by means of bracket 14.

The device It) comprises a head frame generally designated 15 comprising two vertically situated spaced and parallel members 16 with an upper transverse brace 17 spanning the upper ends thereof as clearly shown in the drawings.

A further cross plate 13 spans the vertical members 16 adjacent the lower ends thereof thus making a substantially vertically situated rectangular framework.

I have provided a pair of base fork members 19 which include vertically situated portions 20 and forwardly extending, log engaging portions 21 formed integrally upon the lower ends 22 of the vertical portions 20.

The vertical portions are provided with flanges 23 upon each side of the rear thereof, said flanges engaging between the front face 24 of the vertical members 16 and angle irons 25 secured to the sides 26 of the members 16 as clearly shown in FIGURE 5. This form of mounting permits vertical reciprocation of the base fork members with respect to the head frame 15.

It should also be noted that I have formed a forwardly extending spur 27 adjacent the upper end 23 of the vertical portions 20, the purpose of which will hereafter he explained.

An hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly 29 is mounted to the members 16 of the head frame above the base fork members by means of the pivot connections 30 situated adjacent the upper ends of the members 16. The piston rods 31 are pivotally connected to the other ends 28 of the base fork members so that operations of the piston and cylinder assemblies 29 will cause the vertical reciprocation of the base fork members with relation to the head frame assembly 15.

These piston and cylinder assemblies are connected, in the conventional way, to the hydraulic system of the source of power (not illustrated), and it should be noted that the two base fork members are capable of independent operation so that one can be raised or lowered to a greater extent than the other.

The upper fork assembly is collectively designated 32 in the accompanying drawings and comprises a pair of sheave tubes 32 situated in spaced and parallel relationship inboard of the base fork members and being mounted to the head frame assembly by means of brackets 33 extending from the sheave tubes to the members 16 as clearly shown in FIGURES l and 2.

Journalled for vertical reciprocation within the sheave tubes 32 are vertical guide rods 34 having a brace 35 secured to the upper ends of the rods and spanning same as clearly shown in the drawings.

A cross head assembly collectively designated 36 is secured to and spans the Tower ends 37 of the rods 34, said cross head including a pair of curved bracketts 38 extending upwardly therefrom between the rods 31 and shown in detail in FIGURE 4.

Pivotally secured between the upper ends 39 of these brackets in the piston rod 40 of a vertically situated hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly 41, the cylinder of which is pivotally secured by the upper end thereof to the aforementioned cross brace 17 spanning the members 16 of head frame.

This piston and cylinder assembly is also connected to the hydraulic system of the source of power so that operation of this piston and cylinder assembly will cause the cross head assembly 36 together with the rods 31 to reciprocate vertically within limits and within the sheave tubes 32.

The cross head assembly also includes a pair of forwardly extending brackets 42 between which is pivotally secured a log engaging fork component 43. This component comprises a pair of spaced and parallel arcuately curved forks 44 including strengthening ribs 45 and transverse rods 46 and 47 as clearly shown.

A stiffening member 48 extends between rods 46 and 47 and between the forks 43 to the main pivot pin 49. The inner ends 50 of the forks 43 and the stifiening member 48 are then angulated upwardly and are spanned by a stiffening member 51.

The piston rod 52 of a further piston and cylinder assembly 53, is secured centrally to this stiffening member 51 and the cylinder 54 of this assembly passes between the aforementioned brackets 38 of the cross head 36 and is pivotally secured therebetween by means of pins 55 as clearly shown in FIGURE 4. This transverse mounting permits limited swinging action of this piston and cylinder assembly around the longitudinal axis thereof which is necessary for the operation of the forks 43.

The structure just described forms a bell crank assembly so that operation of the piston and cylinder assembly 53 causes the arcuately curved forks 43 to swing in an are indicated by the double headed arrow 56 in FIG. 1. This piston and cylinder assembly also is connected to the hydraulic system of the source of power.

In operation, the upper fork assembly is normally raised to its uppermost position and the forks are opened. The base fork members 19 are operated by their piston and cylinder assemblies within the limit indicated by the double headed arrow 57 until the desired adjustment is made. The source of power then moves the lower fork assemblies under the stack of logs to be moved whereupon the upper fork assembly is adjusted vertically by means of the piston and cylinder assembly 41, the limits of movement of which are indicated by means of the double headed arrow 58.

The piston and cylinder assembly 53 is then operated thus causing the upper forks 43 to swing in the are as hereinbefore indicated thus enclosing the stack of lumber to be lifted. When this last action takes place, there is sometimes a tendency for the rear logs to ride up the vertical portions of the base fork members and foul or otherwise interfere with the operation of the mechanism. The aforementioned spurs 27 prevent this from occurring and cause the load to be held firmly and safely by the device.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A skidder for pulp wood logs and the like adapted to be mounted on a self propelled source of power and to be operated thereby; comprising in combination a substantially vertically situated head frame attached to said source of power, a base fork member mounted on each side of said head frame for independent reciprocal motion relative to one another, up and down said head frame within limits, said base fork members including a vertical portion mounting said member to said head frame and a forwardly extending base portion formed integrally with said vertical portion of the lower end thereof, a forwardly extending spur formed on the upper end of each of said vertical portions, hydraulic piston and cylinder means operatively connected to said base fork members for said reciprocal motion, an upper fork assembly mounted on said head frame to cooperate with said base fork members, said upper fork assembly including at least one log engaging fork and being mounted for reciprocal movement up and down said head frame Within limits, hydraulic piston and cylinder means operatively connected to said upper fork assembly for said reciprocal motion, means on said upper fork assembly adapted to swing said log engaging fork in a vertical plane in an are within limits, and hydraulic piston and cylinder means operatively connected to said last mentioned means for swinging said log engaging fork as aforesaid.

2. Thedevice according to claim 1 in which said upper fork assembly includes a pair of vertically mounted sheave tubes secured in spaced and parallel relationship to said head frame, a vertical guide rod mounted for reciprocal movement in each of said sheave tubes, a brace spanning the upper ends of said guide rod and being secured thereto, a cross head assembly secured to the lower ends of said guide rod and spanning same, said log engaging fork being pivotally secured by one end thereof, to said cross head.

3. The device according to claim 2 in which said means to swing said log engaging fork in an are within limits includes a piston and cylinder assembly extending between said cross head and said log engaging fork, said piston and cylinder assembly being pivotally mounted on said cross head for pivotal movement around the longitudinal axis of said piston and cylinder assembly within limits.

4. The device according to claim 3 in which said means operatively connecting said base fork members to said source of power and said means operatively connecting said upper fork assembly to said source of power includes piston and cylinder assemblies extending between said head frame and said base fork members and said head frame and said upper fork assembly respectively.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,005,986 10/ 1911 Leroux 294-67 2,008,324 7/1935 Grab 214750 X 2,566,863 9/1951 Vo1gt 214654 2,626,722 1/1953 Talbott 214-653 2,682,347 6/1954 Jackson 214-147 2,874,862 2/1959 Farmer 214652 2,897,985 8/1959 Carlson 214 2,958,435 11/1960 Schmidgall 214652 2,997,193 8/1961 Dunham 214-654 3,107,803 10/1963 Glosup et a1. 214520 3,125,234 3/ 1964 Gustine.

FOREIGN PATENTS 226,908 7/ 1959 Australia. 903,555 7/ 1949 Germany.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

MORRIS TEMIN, Examiner. 

1. A SKIDDER FOR PULP WOOD LOGS AND THE LIKE ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON A SELF PROPELLED SOURCE OF POWER AND TO BE OPERATED THEREBY; COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY SITUATED HEAD FRAME ATTACHED TO SAID SOURCE OF POWER, A BASE FORK MEMBER MOUNTED ON EACH SIDE OF SAID HEAD FRAME FOR INDEPENDENT RECIPROCAL MOTION RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER, UP AND DOWN SAID HEAD FRAME WITHIN LIMITS, SAID BASE FORK MEMBERS INCLUDING A VERTICAL PORTION MOUNTING SAID MEMBER TO SAID HEAD FRAME AND A FORWARDLY EXTENDING BASE PORTION FORMED INTEGRALLY WITH SAID VERTICAL PORTION OF THE LOWER END THEREOF, A FORWARDLY EXTENDING SPUR FORMED ON THE UPPER END OF EACH OF SAID VERTICAL PORTIONS, HYDRAULIC PISTON AND CYLINDER MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID BASE FORK MEMBERS FOR RECIPROCAL MOTION, AN UPPER FORK ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON SAID HEAD FRAME TO COOPERATE WITH SAID BASE FORK MEMBERS, SAID UPPER FORK ASSEMBLY INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE LOG ENGAGING FORK AND BEING MOUNTED FOR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT UP AND DOWN SAID HEAD FRAME WITHIN LIMITS, HYDRAULIC PISTON AND CYLINDER MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID UPPER FORK ASSEMBLY FOR SAID RECIPROCAL MOTION, MEANS ON SAID UPPER FORK ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO SWING SAID LOG ENGAGING FORK IN A VERTICAL PLANE IN AN ARC WITHIN LIMITS, AND HYDRAULIC PISTON AND CYLINDER MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID LAST MENTIONED MEANS FOR SWINGING SAID LOG ENGAGING FORK AS AFORESAID. 